Improvement in apparatus for stretching hat-bodies



Nirn Arne ATENT rricn.

TRUMAN G. OAKLEY AND WM. n. riNoH, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUSFOR STRETCHING HAT-BODIES.

K Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 40,'33, dated October 20, 1863.

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it vknown that we, TRUMAN G. OAKLEY and WILLIAM B. FINoH, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Machine for Stretching Hat-Bodies; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear. and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which-.-

Figure l is a front elevation of our invention, the frame being in section, as indicated by the line x a", Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a side sectional view of the same, taken in the lincx x, Fig. l; Fig. 3, a view of a hat-body before being stretched; Fig. 4, a view of a hat-body stretched and ready for blocking.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to a new and useful machine for stretching hat-bodies prepara` tory to blocking them-such hat-bodies as are fulled or felted after being formed on machines contrived for the purpose. These hatbodies after being fulled or felted are very much contracted in dimensions, and require to be stretched previously to being blocked and brought to the desired form. This stretching operation has hitherto been performed by hand at a considerable expense. Our invention is designed to supersede the manual operation; and to this end it consists of two blocks attached to arms, the upper ends of which are suspended on a pivot and operated by means of a cam and spring or their equivalents in such a manner that the two blocks will be moved simultaneously toward and from each other, and the hat-bodies (which are placed on the blocks) properly stretched, as hereinafter fully shown and described.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct our invention, we will proceed to describe it.

A represents a framing, Wliichmay be constructed in any proper manner to support the working parts of the machine, and B B are two blocks, the front and back surfaces of which are parallel lwith each other, the outer edges rounded horizontally and curved longitudinally, and the inner edges being planes, the two blocks, when their inner edges are in contact, forming a flattened conoid.

k il

The blocks B B are secured each to the lower end of an arm, C, which may be of curved form, as shown in Fig. l, the lower ends of said arm being bent horizontally and passing underneath the blocks, and secured thereto by screws or bolts. By this mode of attachment the blocks B B are made to extend up in front of the arms and at a little distance out from them, as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

The upper ends of the arms CC are suspended by a pivot, a, from a cross-bar, b, at the upper part of the framing A, and a spring, D, of india-rubber or other material, is attached to the arms C at their upper parts,- said spring having a tendency to keep the two arms toward each other and the inner edges of the blocks B B in contact, as will be fully understood by referring to Fig. 1.

To the under side of each block B there is attached a pin having a friction-roller, E, upon it.

F is a horizontal shaft placed in the framing A below the blocks B, and a horizontal bed or platform, G, which has an oblong slot, c, made in it for the friction-rollers E to pass through. On this shaft F there is fitted a cam, H, which may be described as being composed of two oblique wheels or pulleys having slightly-concave edges, and placed in reverse positions on their shaft F, as shown clearly in Fig. l. This cam H works between the friction-rollers E E. The framing A may be of wood, and also the blocks B B. The arms G C may be of metal, as well as the shaft F and cam H. do not, however, conne myself to any particular material for any of the parts.

The operation is as follows: The shaft F is rotated by any convenient power, and the cam H forces the blocks B B apart as its gradually-widening part passes between the rollers E E, the spring D drawing the blocks toward each other as the gradually-narrowing part passes between said rollers. By this means the two blocks are simultaneously moved toward and from each other. The outward position of the blocks is shown in red in Fig. 1, and their inward position is shown in dark tint. The operator places a hat-body, ax, (see Fig. 3,) on the two blocks when the same are in contact, and gradually turns the hat-body a short distance on the blocks each time they come in contact. The blocks stretch the hat-body each time they are forced apart or outward from each other, and stretch it from the apex to the lower edge, and oonsequently after being thus operated upon for a short time it will be sufficiently enlarged or stretched (see Fig. 4) for the block, over which the proper form is given it.

We would remark that the blocks B B are grooved horizontally to prevent the hat-body from slipping upward. The Operator keeps his hands on the hat-body during the Whole of the stretching Operation in Order to give it a short turn each time the blocks B B come in contact.

This invention has been practically tested,

and is nOW in successful Operation, saving a great deal of labor and expense.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The two blocks B B, attached to the pivoted arm C C, and Operated through the medium Of the cam H and spring D, Or their equivalents, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

TEUMAN e. OAKLEY.Y WILLIAM E. E INOIL Witnesses:

THOs. S. J. DOUGLAS, GEORGE W. REED. 

